Window shade attaching means



June 15, 1943. s. J. JOHNSON WINDOW SHADE ATTACHING MEANS Filed July 23, 194i Patented June 15, 1943 WINDOW SHADE ATTACHING MEANS Samuel J. Johnson, West Chester, Ohio, assignor to Olopay Corporation, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Maryland Application July 23, 1941, Serial No. 403,713

Claims.

This invention relates to means for fastening window shades to shade rollers and is particularly directed to an improved and simplified clip which is useful for these purposes.

It has been a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved and simplified clip that is particularly useful in conjunction with reversible window shades. Reversible window shades are shades which are of identical construction at either end. When the depend ing or exposed end becomes soiled or frayed the shade may be reversed and the soiled end fastened to the roller and thus concealed. Both ends of the shade are hemmed in order that the stiffening slat may be changed from one end to the other when the shade is reversed.

It may be seen that it is of the utmost importance that the fastening means for a reversible shade be so constructed that the shade is held securely to the roller without being torn or badly marred by the fastening means. Also it is desirable that the clip be easily installed and readily removable. Therefore, it has been a further object of the present invention to provide a clip for securely fastening reversible window shades to rollers which clip is adapted to be easily installed and removed without injuring the shade.

The clip of this invention has many advantages over conventional fastening means such as tacks and adhesive. The clip does not deface the shade; on standard width shades only two clips are necessary to hold the shade securely and, therefore, the shade is easily aligned with the roller so that it hangs straight; a shade can be fastened to a roller in a small portion of the time required for either tacks or glue; and, the clips may be used over and Over again.

The clip may also be used with ordinary or non-reversible window shades and has the same advantages that have just been itemized in the case of reversible shades together with the additional advantage that when pulled very sharply the margin of the shade may be pulled. away from the clip but it will not be torn as it would be if tacks were used.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the ensuing description of the drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary face view of an unrolled shade illustrating the fastening means of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating one of the fastening members.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing an alternate method of attaching the shade to the roller by the clip.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a modified form of the clip in which the shade engaging edge of the tangs are broken or notched.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention best illustrated in Figure 3 the fastening means comprises two or more clips 5-5 of general 0- shaped contour. The clips may be made from flat semi-spring steel which preferably extends over an approximate semicircle. It has been found that the optimum gripping action is obtained when the clip is just about half the length of the circumference of the roller and that shorter or longer clips do not hold as well. At the respective ends of each clip gripper tangs 66 are bent inwardly toward each other. The tangs 6 are substantially short and in the preferred embodiment each one is bent inwardly at an angle slightly less than to a line tangent to the body of the clip at the point where the tang joins the body.

The body of the clip may be strengthened as shown by ribs 1! struck from the clip. Also the clips may be made of a plastic material having the necessary flexibility. Plastics are suggested because they are rust-proof and can be used in localities having relatively high humidity.

In Figure 2 the clip is illustrated with a. reversible type shade. The shade is indicated at 8 and includes two hemmed ends indicated at 9 and II] respectively. The depending end I0 is stiifened by the usual slot II which is inserted in the hem. The other end 9 of the shade is engaged around a shade roller I2. At this end the hem is flattened. The clips 5 are slipped down over the engaged end 9 of the shade and the shade is gripped by one or both of the tangs 6 and held against the roller. The body of the clip also serves in holding the shade against the roller.

The tange are the essential elements of the clip. They should not be sharp or they will tear or mar the shade. Preferably the points are perfectly straight across or possibly slightly rounded. The angle at which the tangs are bent inwardly from the body of the clipmay vary slightly but it is suggested that this angle at no time be more than 90. The gripping action of the clips may be augmented by serrating the shade engaging edges of the tangs or breaking the edges to provide notches as shown at M in Figure 5. In the alternative very fine score or checker marks may be placed on the edges; but, in either instance, care should be taken to avoid burrs which would cause marring of the shade surfaces.

The preferred construction shown in Figure 1 utilizes a pair of clips but three or more may be used, depending on the length of the shade and to some extent on the springiness of the material from which the clips are formed.

In Figure 4 there is illustrated a slightly different method of utilizing the clip to fasten the shade to the roller. In this figure the margin of the shade I3 has been wound around the roller and slightly snubbed and the clip has both tangs gripping the shade surface instead of only one as illustrated in Figure 2. This provides a more secure attachment of the shade to the roller particularly as against pulling strains on the shade.

Having fully described my invention, I claim:

1. As a new article of manufacture a clip for fastening a window shade to a roller; said clip being of approximate C configuration and having at each end thereof a blunt pointed tang bent inwardly toward the shade roller at approximately a right angle thereto for holding the shade to the roller in gripping relationship without unduly marring the surface of the shade.

2. A clip for fastening a window shade to a shade roller comprising a strip of springy material bent to an approximate c configuration, an inwardly extending blunt pointed tang at each end of said strip for holding a shade to a roller in gripping relationship, and a reenforcing corrugation formed in the strip and extending longitudinally thereof.

3. In a reversible window shade and roller combination comprising a window shade and a roller, means for detachably securing the shade to the roller without unduly marring the surface of the shade; said means including a strip of springy material of approximate C configuration and a blunt pointed tang at each end of the strip said tangs extending inwardly at approximately right angles to the roller for holding the shade firmly against the roller when the clip is positioned thereon under compression.

4. In combination a shade roller, a window shade, and means for detachably securing an end of the shade to the roller; said means comprising a plurality of strips of springy material bent to a general C shaped configuration adapted to overlie the end of the shade contiguous to the roller and engage the shade and roller under compression; each of said strips having an inwardly extending blunt pointed tang positioned at each end thereof, the tang on one end of each strip being engaged with the shade and the tang on the other end of each strip being engaged with the outer surface of the roller.

5. In a window shade and shade roller combination, means for detachably securing the shade to the roller, said means comprising a plurality of clips of general C configuration; each of said clips having an inwardly extending blunt pointed tang positioned at each end thereof; one tang on each strip being adapted to engage the shade and the second tang being adapted to engage the surface of the roller as the clip is positioned under compression on the roller overlying an end edge of the shade.

SAMUEL J. JOHNSON. 

